TheSpread.com

Zito Tries for Third

Barry Zito looks to win a season-high three consecutive starts Monday when he tries to help the San Francisco Giants salvage a split of a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Zito (5-5, 4.21 ERA), who joined the Giants (26-29) from Oakland after signing a $126 million, seven-year contract in the offseason, has been outstanding in his last two outings, allowing one run and 10 hits in 14 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks.

Lowell Eyes Yankees

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have done more than their share of damage against the New York Yankees over the years. This season, Mike Lowell has been their biggest tormentor.

Lowell and the Boston Red Sox look to push the Yankees a season-high 14 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East when the rivals conclude a three-game series Sunday night at Fenway Park.

Rockies On a Roll

Now that they've snapped out of their losing streak, the Colorado Rockies try to win their second series of the year over the Cincinnati Reds when the teams wrap up their season series Sunday at Coors Field.

The Rockies (26-30) ended their three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Reds (22-35) on Saturday, behind a two-run home run from Todd Helton.

Dontrelle Takes Mound

The Florida Marlins have played some of their best baseball this season with staff ace Dontrelle Willis on the mound. That's bad news for a Milwaukee Brewers team trying to win its first series in nearly a month.

The Marlins look to salvage a split of their four-game set with the Brewers when the teams meet in Sunday's finale at Miller Park.

Slumping

The St. Louis Cardinals' offense is finally starting to show some signs of life. The same cannot be said for the Houston Astros.

The Cardinals try to win four straight games for the first time in nearly two months when they play the middle game of their weekend series with the slumping Astros on Saturday.